Posted on 02/19/2015 1:58:28 PM PST by NYer
BELEN, N.M. (KRQE) – A little dog is being hailed a hero for saving his much larger buddy. One dachshund’s persistence led to a dramatic water rescue of a St. Bernard.
[PHOTOS: Hero dachshund helps save St. Bernard]
Belen firefighters and police officers raced to the rescue to save Tim Chavez’s St. Bernard named Jazzy. Chavez believes the 180-pound dog was stuck in a cold, muddy ditch for about 18 hours.
Chavez’s tiny dachshund named Razor is credited with making the rescue happen.
Sunday afternoon, the 9-year-old St. Bernard got loose. By Monday, Chavez had to go to work, and in retrospect, Chavez realizes Razor was trying to let him know that something was wrong.
“I went to feed him, and he was kind of going crazy, trying to get my attention,” Chavez said.
Razor kept trying to alert others to something, as he barked at the neighbor too.
“He noticed that Razor was kind of running amok, and just causing a scene and trying to get this attention,” Chavez said.
It was all for good reason because Jazzy was in a bad predicament.
“Razor took off through the field, along the irrigation ditch, and showed up here,” Chavez told KRQE News 13, at the location where Jazzy was in danger. “This is the spot Jazzy was actually stuck in, she was stuck here at least two feet stuck into the mud,” he recalled.
A passerby followed Razor and saw Jazzy in the ditch. Next thing you know, eight Belen police and firefighters were pulling off a ditch rescue. Using backboard straps and a long spine board, just like they would for a person, rescuers saved the big dog.
“It’s never happened in my career, and in this business, we see a lot of things. This is the first time that we participated in something like this,” said Manny Garcia, Belen’s fire chief. “This is a great story. One I think that is very unique, and one that animal lovers across our state will love,” he said.
“We’re used to rescuing humans, and when it comes to somebody’s pet, it’s just like a family member,” Garcia added. “What makes it unique is the people in Belen care for each other,” Garcia said.
Lt. Joe Portio with the Belen Police Department said two things are important for officers on duty. “Public safety is rule number one, and preservation of life, whether it’s going to be an animal or human being,” said Portio.
Chavez is grateful his four-legged friend is now home.
“It really means a lot. You don’t really realize how attached you are to your pets until something like this happens,” he said.
But Chavez’s pit bull terrier named Layla also ran away from home with Jazzy and is still missing. He hopes to find her soon.
Meantime, the Belen City Council will honor Razor for his actions at the March 2 meeting.
Good Doggie!
Saw this on the local news.
Diana, you need to come out here to N.M. and visit me!!! We two single outdoor gals could have fun out here.
What? Timmy is stuck in the well? No? Jazzy is stuck in a ditch?
I’ve been to Belen a few times, but mostly I drove through it on my way to Datil or other destinations in southern NM. Not a bad little town, at least what I saw of it.
What a wonderful story! Thank you!
BAFK! WOOF!
-PJ
The article says a "A passerby followed Razor and saw Jazzy in the ditch."
..and still has one dog missing.
Bad Dog, OWNER!
What a great story. Made my day!
BAFK! BAFK!!!
9 is old for a Saint.
I have some questions. Maybe they just didn’t bother to put in all the details.
“Got loose” Sunday? Went to work Monday? Did he look for this dog at all, even know? The Dachshund didn’t go nuts until the next day?
Then the video says a Pit Bull was 1 of the dogs, and still missing. Great.
“Chavez’s pit bull terrier Layla also ran away from home”
You’ve been running and hiding much too long,
You know it’s just your foolish pride.
Layla, you got me on my knees ......
New Mexico, not Mexico.
Why would anyone go to Datil?
(Just funnin’ ya - ex-Magdalena resident here.)
Doggie Ping!
Razor is the little dog who could.
Thank goodness we still have the other 56.
Do you have a cold? :)
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